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Victorian Social History Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Victorian Social History Quizzes, Trivia

Victorian Social History Trivia

Victorian Social History Trivia Quizzes

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8 quizzes and 95 trivia questions.
1.
A Very Victorian Christmas
  A Very Victorian Christmas   top quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
How do you do? My name is John and I live in 1860s England. My father is a barrister in the Court of Exchequer. Would you like to join us for Christmas? Please do!
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Dec 11 17
Average
ponycargirl editor
1623 plays
2.
  Life in Victorian England   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Victorian Age of England is the period during Queen Victoria's long reign from 1837-1901. Famous as an era of strict morals and archaic customs, Victorian daily life continues to fascinate.
Average, 10 Qns, pagiedamon, Mar 06 11
Average
pagiedamon gold member
3196 plays
3.
  The Man In The Black Suit   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Mourning rituals and customs have changed over the years. This quiz takes a look at the ones prevalent in Victorian times.
Average, 10 Qns, Christinap, Apr 12 13
Average
Christinap
768 plays
4.
  Victorian Adverts (Commercials)   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Skimming the advertisements in an 1876 British Directory, I came across a number of items that you might not be familiar with. Or are you?
Average, 15 Qns, davejacobs, Feb 23 19
Average
davejacobs
Feb 23 19
305 plays
5.
  Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Here are a few advertisements from an 1861 Directory for Southampton, England. Can you say what they are about?
Average, 15 Qns, davejacobs, Feb 19 19
Average
davejacobs
Feb 19 19
243 plays
6.
  Victorian Etiquette   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Victorians had rules of etiquette for nearly every situation. Could you have survived in upper class English Victorian society? Take this quiz and find out!
Difficult, 10 Qns, shortnsweet875, Oct 21 12
Difficult
shortnsweet875
2905 plays
7.
  Victorian Advertisements - 1851    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
These adverts appeared in the Southampton Directory for 1851, a year famous for the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace, and for the first really useful English Census. But never mind that, what about these advertisements?
Average, 15 Qns, davejacobs, Nov 27 19
Average
davejacobs
Nov 27 19
207 plays
8.
  Changing of the Guard-Bertie and Edwardian London    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Victoria's long reign ended in 1901. A new century and a new (though aging) King Edward VII(Bertie) restored a vibrant high society to London, allowing innovation in the arts, fashion, technology and politics to flourish.
Tough, 10 Qns, Englizzie, Sep 09 10
Tough
Englizzie
320 plays

Victorian Social History Trivia Questions

1. In many of the adverts you see references to a "Steam Packet". What would that be I wonder?

From Quiz
Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: A mail boat

Historically a "packet" boat was a vessel on a fairly regular schedule carrying mail, and usually passengers as well. Before the arrival of steam ships, timetables were often difficult to hold to, but when steam ships became available it was much easier to keep to a schedule, and routes proliferated. Southampton being a maritime hub, there were steam packets going to dozens of different places. At one end you had local services, for example, "Southampton Steam Packets" offered trips between Southampton and the Isle of Wight seven times a day, using a fleet of six ships. At the other extreme you had P & O packets going as far as India and China on a regular basis. These vessels would probably have been side-wheel paddle steamers, but not long after they were superseded by screw driven ships.

2. Taylor Dore advertise themselves as, among other things, "Silk Mercers, Hosiers, Haberdashers ...". One of the things they could sell you was a "Tuscan Bonnet". What would such a thing be?

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: A straw hat covering all the head except the face.

A bonnet was a kind of hat that was pulled round most of the head, leaving only the face open. A Tuscan bonnet was made of straw, and might be decorated for effect on social occasions. There is a famous poem by Elizabeth Cavazza Pullen called 'Alicia's Bonnet' that contains the often repeated couplet "Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it." Apparently they were real - but dead - birds, and the gist of the poem was regretting the fact that they had to be slain to create beauty. Colchester Museum has a costume department that recently reported "We are also able to reveal three recently conserved bonnets including a Quaker bonnet and an intricate Tuscan straw bonnet."

3. Dowman's Compound Dandelion Pills were sold by a local chemist (druggist). What do you suppose they were claimed to be a cure for?

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Sluggish livers

In this instance the advertiser said his compound was good for "sluggish livers", which probably meant constipation. For centuries dandelion has been known as a diuretic and has many other uses. The leaves may be used in salads, the roots may be roasted as a coffee substitute. You can even make dandelion wine, if you are adventurous - or desperate.

4. Victorian widows were expected to dress completely in black, including a heavy black veil. What was the colloquial term for this ensemble?

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: Widow's weeds

Weeds is an old English word meaning garment. Social conventions said that a widow, especially if a member of the middle or upper classes, had to wear a dress of heavy black material. To this was added a black cap if indoors, or a full, dense, heavy black veil if out in public. They were expected to wear these clothes for anything up to four years, although they could wear it indefinitely if they chose to. Society regarded a minimum of two years of full mourning clothes as a proper period of respect for the departed husband. A widow was expected to abstain from going out during the mourning period. To be seen, for example, at a ball whilst in mourning would have caused quite a scandal.

5. John Parr & Co, Job & Post Masters, advertised "A set of Black Ostrich Plumes may be obtained on moderate terms". On what occasion would you probably use them?

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: A funeral

Funerals at that time were very significant social occasions, and it was conventional to show your social importance by the way the funeral was conducted. A well-to-do family would have a ceremony involving carriages drawn by black horses, and often these horses were decorated with black plumes worn on their heads. Incidentally, in Victorian times there did not seem to be specialist undertakers, but many stores, especially those selling special funeral clothing, would organise a funeral. You could buy black clothes for the occasion, or you might have some clothes dyed black. Whether you could have the original colour restored afterwards is dubious.

6. Staying with Taylor Dore for a moment, what would a hosier sell you?

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Stockings, socks, etc.

Also called "legwear", hosiery comprises any item worn directly on the feet or legs. This would include stockings, socks; panty-hose had not yet been invented. In medieval times a doublet and hose was traditional wear for men, the doublet being a close fitting jacket, while hose was a bit like panty-hose, but for men and no doubt in stouter material.

7. An ironmonger was selling "Register stoves, fenders, fireirons and baths". So what are "fireirons"?

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Tools for tending an open fire

Used domestically, fireirons usually come as a set - poker, tongs and shovel, often with a stand on which they may be hung.

8. Aristocrats living in Victorian England could take advantage of many benefits by right of birth. What was NOT one of those privileges?

From Quiz Life in Victorian England

Answer: They could not be charged with rape

Aristocrats, comprised mainly of people who inherited their land and who did not work for a living, exercised a great deal of power and prestige in Victorian England. They enjoyed legal and constitutional benefits that were unique to their social class alone. Immunity from rape accusations, however, was not among their birth-right perks. (G. E. Mingay, "Victorian Countryside," 2000).

9. Peacock's was selling "Anti-Sargassian Conservative paint". Where would you use it?

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: On the bottom of a ship

The clue I guess is in the reference to Sargasso, the well-known sea of weed drifting in the Atlantic. The advertised composition was claimed to inhibit the growth of weed etc. and hence it helped to conserve the vessel on which it was applied. The ad explains why it works; "One of the peculiar qualities of this composition is, that shortly after immersion in salt water, decomposition takes place between the oxides forming its base, and the surface of the paint becomes slimy, like the back of a fish, although adhesive, adding considerably to the speed of the vessel."

10. The Sunderland and South Wales C... Company would sell you "'Best Newbury Steam' well adapted for Bakers, Brewers, Millowners and others." Supposing you were to buy some, what would you do with it?

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Burn it

This was a company that dealt in coal, which was available in various kinds, suited for a variety of purposes. Newbury Steam coal was obviously good for the kind of ovens used by bakers. etc, although the name suggests it was also suited for steam engines.

11. M. Larbalester (ici on parle francais) sold among other things, meerschaum pipes. What was such a thing exactly?

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: A smoker's pipe with a bowl made from a chalk-like material

Meerschaum is a German word meaning "sea foam" on account of the look of the mineral given that name. Technically called "sepiolite" it comes from the Black Sea region, occasionally found floating. It was the Germans who thought of using it as the bowl of a pipe - possibly because it has a beneficial effect on the burning tobacco, but more likely just because it looks good..

12. Special black mourning jewellery was also worn by widows. What material was often used for making this?

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: Jet

Jet is a naturally occurring material. It comes from rotting wood. It is easy to carve and to polish and became popular during Victorian times as mourning jewellery because of its deep black colour. In England the best jet was found in the Whitby area. Although often associated with mourning jewellery and the Victorian era, jewellery made from jet was very popular in Roman times. Hair pins, rings, bracelets, brooches and other trinkets have been found in many Roman sites. Much of this was produced in and around the York area.

13. Hall, dispensing Chemist, was selling "Camphorated Chalk". What was this for?

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: Cleaning your teeth

Hall's sold a range of materials for cleaning your teeth. The complete list was:: Aromatic Astringent Dentifrice Rose Dentifrice Pearl Dentifrice Camphorated Chalk

14. Hammond's Music Saloon would sell, repair or take in part exchange, instruments including harmoniums. What kind of instrument was that?

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Keyboard

A harmonium was an instrument also called a pump-organ, that was much smaller than a traditional organ, and for that reason often used in churches that could not afford the real thing. It was set in a frame similar to an upright piano, and it had a keyboard like a piano's. Sound was produced by air flowing over metal reeds, the air being supplied by bellows worked by pedals at the player's feet. The advertiser Mr G Hammond was a Professor of the Harp and Pianoforte, and was also Pianoforte Tuner to Her Majesty and HRH The late Duchess of Kent. (Who? You remember, she was the mother of Queen Victoria, who must have died shortly before the publication of this Directory.)

15. Mr Garrett offers "Vaults and Graves built on reasonable terms". What distinguishes a vault from a grave?

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Vaults have entrances

A grave is simply a rectangular hole dug in the ground, into which a coffin is placed; it is then filled in with earth, and a memorial or gravestone may be placed over it. If a second burial is to be made in the same grave, the earth has to be dug out again. A vault on the other hand is intended from the start to hold a number of coffins, usually intended for one family. It is often a building, with prepared places for later coffins to be put, and with an entrance that may be a wooden door. Even if the vault is built below ground, it will have an entrance, usually a removable stone slab that covers a flight of steps.

16. If the deceased person had been quite wealthy mourning jewellery was sometimes presented to those attending the funeral. This often took the form of a ring for the men or a locket for the ladies, usually containing what memento of the dead person?

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: Lock of hair

Rings and lockets containing a lock of the deceased's hair were very popular in Victorian times. In addition to this the item was often also engraved with the name of the deceased and the date of his/her death. It was a mark of status to give out these items to friends and relatives. Although this jewellery hit a height in popularity in Victorian times it was known well before that. Samuel Pepys, the diarist from the time of King Charles II, stipulated in his will that 129 mourning rings should be made and given to people who attended his funeral. Other types of memorial jewellery included cameos carved in the likeness of the deceased, rings decorated with a skull and lockets containing a miniature portrait of the deceased (usually worn by the widow). Sometimes rings, bracelets and necklaces woven out of the actual hair of the deceased were made, usually for the immediate family.

17. The way people addressed one another was a matter of strict protocol. Which would have been an unacceptable form of address?

From Quiz Life in Victorian England

Answer: Calling an aristocrat by his first name

Among the myriad of social dictates to be followed, the proper usage of names and titles was one of high-priority. Members of the upper and middle classes proudly used titles, or at least surnames, when speaking of one another (e.g. Mr Darcy or Captain Wentworth). Noblemen would often go by their aristocratic titles (e.g., George Chandler, Marquis of Wyndham, would be called "Lord Wyndham"). Married women used their husbands' last names or corresponding titles, while single girls and women would be called "Miss." Even children, from a young age, were encouraged to partake in this social indoctrination. Boys would refer to one another by their family names only, and most children expected their servants to call them "miss" or "master" (Mitchell, "Daily Life in Victorian England," 1996).

18. Victorian ladies developed their own silent way of flirting with their fans, which many young men learned quickly. What did it mean if a lady twirled her fan in her right hand?

From Quiz Victorian Etiquette

Answer: "I love another"

There were many signals that young ladies could give, allowing them to send the right message to a young man. Placing the handle on her lips meant "Kiss me," drawing it across her cheek meant "I love you", and touching tip witrh finger meant "I wish to speak with you."

19. J Taylor Dore & Co. included "Ticks and Huckabacks" among their offerings. What were they?

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: Textiles used for bathroom or bedroom items

Ticking was a strong material made of cotton, and ticks were items made from this material, such as pillow cases and mattress covers. Huckaback (sometimes Huggaback) was a material of cotton or linen, in a weave that made it particularly absorbent. It was therefore often used for towels.

20. J. B. Thomas, Watch and Clock Maker etc, advertised " **** Rated By Transit Observations." What do you think is the word(s) I have replaced with **** ?

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Chronometers

Southampton being a port, there were several shops that sold chronometers, whose accurate timekeeping was essential for precise navigation. The explanation of the transit method is beyond me, but this extract shows how important it is: "At Greenwich, time determinations were made from observations of the Sun until Edmond Halley obtained the Observatory's first transit telescope in 1721. After that date, all time determinations were made from observations of the stars."

21. Hattatt's, the vinegar distillers, was advertising "Lithia Water". What would you do with it?

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Drink it for your health

At that time a naturally occurring mineral water containing lithium salts (called Lithia Water) was used in medicine as a diuretic, and as a treatment for gout and rheumatic conditions. Its benefits have been acclaimed by many users over the years, but although it is now thought to be fairly ineffective, bottled lithia water is still available from its original source at Lithia Springs, Georgia, and a few other places.

22. Men were expected to wear mourning clothes as well as women. However, these were not as restrictive, consisting of a black frock coat, black trousers and black waistcoat. However, black arm bands only were acceptable for which group of people?

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: The military

For anyone serving in the military whose normal dress was uniform it was acceptable for just a black armband to be worn, as full mourning garb would not be allowed. This also applied to others who habitually wore a uniform for work such as the police. However, when not expected to be in uniform the social rules of mourning dress applied, and they would dress in black. Children were dressed in black mourning clothes, but never for more than a year, and girls' clothes did not include the black veil. Only girls over 17 years of age were expected to wear the full mourning outfit, under that age a simple black dress was sufficient. Mourning worn by servants depended to a great extent on how wealthy the household was. A wealthy one would supply the servants with full mourning clothes, a less wealthy one would supply black arm bands.

23. There were frequent references to the occupation of "bell-hanger". Surely there were not enough churches needing bells to keep these people in employment so where else would they work?

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: In big houses.

Doorbells of course would be very common, but the installation of these was usually not very difficult. On the other hand, any middle class family would employ one or more servants, and these would often be summoned by ringing a bell. Bigger houses might have an intricate arrangement of bells which rang in the servants' quarters, and might indicate on a board in which room service was required.

24. The cheapest newspaper in Hampshire, the "Southampton Times" was published every Saturday, priced at... What do you think?

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: One penny

Actually a price of one penny was perhaps not particularly cheap. The advert claims "Advertisers secure all the advantages of a First-class and widely-circulating Journal." Sixpence would have been outrageously expensive, while giving it away would not be feasible in those days.

25. Cawte the bookbinder would bind books in cloth, calf, roan or morocco. What was roan made of?

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Sheepskin

The word 'roan' is generally used to describe a horse of a brownish colour mixed with white or gray. In bookbinding it refers to a soft leather made from sheepskin, coloured in the same way. Book collectors usually consider a roan binding as an inferior substitute for morocco leather, although in practice it is quite serviceable.

26. On the death of a sovereign all flags would be flown at half mast except for which one?

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: The Royal Standard

On the death of the sovereign the next in line to the throne automatically becomes King or Queen. As this means there is always a reigning monarch on the throne the Royal Standard, which is the Sovereign's personal flag, is never flown at half mast. Flags on public buildings or on private flagpoles are flown at half mast, and foreign embassies that fly their own flags would normally take these down to half mast as a mark of respect. Any flags flown on ships in port would also be at half mast.

27. Which statement is true regarding Victorian housing?

From Quiz Life in Victorian England

Answer: Besides the landed nobility, few people owned houses

Aristocrats owned lands and houses, primarily through the passing on of estates between family members. The majority of British men and women in the Victorian era, however, did not have the means to buy their own house or land. Renting or leasing a house was the most common housing situation for the majority of people during this period.

28. Buchan and Son would like to sell you some "Hartley's Rough Plate"... for gardeners' use. What would your gardener do with it?

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Make cold frames, etc.

Buchan's were dealers in all kinds of glass, and Hartley's Rough Plate was a type used for making greenhouses and cold frames. The business also offered this service: "Looking glasses re-silvered."

29. Mr Wallace, the posting master, offered "Fashionable Breaks". What would you do with one?

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Go for a ride.

The clue is in the fact that the advertiser is a "posting master", that is he kept horses and carriages for hire. The spelling is misleading, as it is usually spelled "brake". Commonly called a shooting brake, it was a carriage used to carry shooting parties and their equipment. The term "brake" comes from the early use of a chassis to which unbroken horses were attached, in order to get them used to pulling carriages; in other words, to break them in.

30. When Queen Victoria died how long was the period of official court mourning?

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: One year

When Queen Victoria died in January 1901 the official court mourning period lasted until January 1902. Court mourning is observed by the Royal family, the overseas representatives of the monarch, and all their staff. Instructions on what to wear and what social engagements can and cannot be engaged in are issued. In the case of Victoria the general public were also instructed to wear full mourning until March 1901, and then half mourning until mid April 1901. It is a misapprehension that the coronation of the next monarch cannot take place until the official mourning period is over. Whilst there is always a delay of some months this is more down to the planning required and finding a suitable date for overseas heads of state to attend, than the actual mourning period.

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